Deborah : “Oh Garance, you’re SO shallow. This world is crazy in the head. Fashion, fashion, fashion. I mean, really, were is all that fashion gonna get you ?*”

Pfffff… Where to start, Deborah? I… okay you’re right! I’m superficial, JUST NOT ALL THE TIME! Not all my subscriptions have glossy pages. I’m a conscious consumer. I recycle. I vote and I also think the world is crazy in the head. Actually, we’re in the same boat, you and me. Okay, great, 1 comment approved.

—-

NYC, Sunday the 20th, 3:00 p.m., I’m stuck in the Big Apple. Huge snowstorms forced me to stay two more days here. Oh no… Life can be SO rough sometimes. When the hostess called me to tell me the bad news, I thought I was going to give her a big sloppy one on the lips* I was so happy.

Blissed out, I thought I’d do what I love most in NYC, buy books and cupcakes**, and then go home, make myself a cup of tea, and scarf all three down simultaneously***.

I geared myself up, seeing as outside was Tundra. Parka, pants, heavy socks, scarfs, hat, big hood. When I can’t see anything or move, that means that I’m all good, no more cold for me.

And then…

Then…

I got all my shoes out… And I realized that NOTHING I had would help me brave the snow. And on top of that, not only are 99% of my shoes heels, all the others I love too much to go walking out in the mud and salt (salt is terrible for shoes, TERRIBLE) that’s all over the sidewalk.

At the same time, I’m not gonna let three clods of mud get in my way, that’s right, Gawance Dowé. I get out my platform boots, (that’ll keep me far away from the mud)( =mini-skis, actually) and voilà, off I go into the blizzard.

I get a foot outside. In the snow, I walk like master Yoda, like in the first version of Star Wars, when he’s in his cave, and his light saber has lost all its worth, you know what I’m talking about? Mountains of slowly decomposing snow followed by pools of mud deeper than Pamela Anderson’s neckline.

After about three steps, I’m quite literally stuck.

I stop for three seconds to reflect on my situation and my role in the universe while I’m pretending to send some texts on my Blackberry. All around me, New Yorkers have gotten out their rubber boots. Chic and practical, they make huge bounds in the snow with a grace that rocks me with jealousy.

But even that won’t hold me back. I’ll make some detours, but I’ll get there eventually. And I can even make a little pit-stop at Marc by Marc just next to Magnolia Bakery where I’m sure to find some rubber boots for $10 (Yeah, I know Deborah, rubber boots that price are not environmentally conscious) and then voilà, I’ll have the gear of a true New Yorker. And I’m off.

A half hour later, I’m still struggling to make it around my block. I start to see my hopes on their way back down. And then there’s a Starbucks just in front of me, I could always just go get a muffin there, and then get home and finally finish Journey to the End of Night instead of buying myself some wretched chick-lit. Deborah would be pleased.

No. Not good enough. Keep going. Prove it to the world (= to yourself) that your love of heels won’t get in the way of your life as a liberated woman.

In a desperate plea (what can I do to not finish this terrible Céline paper back?) I flip an ollie on a puddle of mud… And then, without me asking whatsoever, my Cholé mini-skis are on their way… And this starts the progression toward my fatal cascade : My superficiality and me, inextricably linked, heading face first into a pile of snow.

Mortified, I make my retreat and head back home. Adieu cupcakes, Marc by Marc, and piles of paperbacks.

Pffff.

—-

Deborah: Oh Garance, you’re SO shallow. This world is crazy in the head. Fashion, fashion, fashion. I mean, really, where is all that fashion gonna get you?

Answer = not even to the next block! Ok, ok, ok – Deborah 1, Garance 0.

—-

Voilà, there’s my little winter’s tale, taking time to wish you a holiday season filled with cupcakes. And also to give a little hint for my family about what to leave under the tree on Friday.

And of course, to promise you that it’s not gonna be tomorrow that I stop being superficial!!! Rainboots, yeah, ok. But high heels all the way! Ooookay, I’ll stop talking about nothing. Happy holidays and Merrrryyyyyyyy Christmas!!! Big, big, big hugs!

—–

* Into the telephone, the kisses, have some decency.

** I know. CUPCAKES HAVE SEDUCED US AND TAKEN THE WORLD BY SURPRISE AND THEY’RE TRYING TO CONQUER ALL THE NAUGHTY BOYS AND GIRLS. At the same time, who cares, it’s the same with macaroons: they’re a bit cheesy but ohhh so good.

*** And then call my therapist. And then call my therapist. And then call my therapist.

Did this Deborah really say that? geez… My life isn’t all about fashion and I don’t own one pair of high heels but to go around calling people you don’t know personally shallow.. o_O okay anyway, so I hear the winter storm in NYC is bringing everyone down (quite literally…my friend who goes to NYU was supposed to be back in SoCal on Saturday). I’m sure it doesn’t compare to the rain and wind that LA has been getting recently.. I hope you stay comfortable through the blizzard and get through it safe and sound!

Lucy : Oh if only you knew what we get sometimes in the comments… It’s like on internet people feel totally free to let go the darkest sides… Deborah was quite nice actually ;-)
I am going to Corsica tomorrow… My home land !!! Never gets too cold there, so should be good ! Have a great Christmas !

it’s actually a bit funny to me when people think someone else is shallow just because they write about fashion or love fashion. it’s as if they thought fashion was the synonym for shallow.anyway, glad you’re back Garance, all your readers miss you when your gone :) and that was great story.

Oah Sorels, but you have to wear them a certain way or else the locals they laugh at you…
I own a pair and was quite taken with wearing them OVER my jeans….and the alpine locals – where we have the only snow to wear them – laughed. Not done. Not done like that in the Australian alps. So fabulous though….

We’ve miraculously gotten two feet of snow down here in Virginia, and I too have miscalculated my footwear choices over the past few days in the hopes that *maybe* my Marc Jacobs wedges can brave the halfway-shoveled, ice-covered path up my driveway and that *maybe* I won’t fall on my ass… What’s worse in my case is that I do in fact own more practical footwear, I just can’t bring myself to tug on my rubber boots when “heels would really look sooo much better with this skirt” and “I’m not even walking that far, anyway, how bad can it be?” :)

Also: tell Deborah that Yoda would argue that “fashion a part of the force is; heels embrace you must!” … not that I’m a Star Wars nerd or anything…

..yyyeey thank you for the story! so glad you are back. my BF even came and took a glance on my pc desktop just to see what was I occupied with just because I had stayed so still for a while :D?! ..but I was not doing anything bad, just reading you again he he! wishing you an excellent Christmas, Garance & all the good things for 2010!!! ;-)

SOREL BOOTS!!! I own a pair Garance! They’re bulky but they really are great for snow… I live in Vancouver and we get snow here too (sometimes). I know it would last me years coz my BF has as pair of real good quality heavy duty Sorel and he’s had it for 10 years! Still looks new. LOL. Now that’s practical. But I have my eye on a pair of LL Bean for a few months now… I thought it could serve as my back-up, just in case the Sorel doesn’t go with any of my outfit… You just never know. I guess that’s being shallow :) But I don’t care… it’s not like a capital sin like I murdered someone! It’s just shoes. pffffttttttt!!!

I ordered the L.L.Bean boots this year. With the sheerling lining for extra added warmth! I need them desperately for standing outside at my cupcake stall in London every Saturday. They keep your feet warm and dry. I love that. When you are next in London, come get a free cupcake Garance! It would be so great. http://www.violetcakes.com
We re-open the last week in January.
xx Merry Christmas

Garance, I am so happy you are back with all your fabulous stories and I would not call it superficial…it’s just girly with lots of love for fashion and that is wonderful! Have a great Christmas,xx nati

Hi!
Loved this post — you’re hilarious and your drawing is once again amazing! Glad to have you back and that you finally managed to get back to Paris. Hope you have a fantastic time at home for the holidays!

p.s. have you tried pumpkin muffins with cream cheese frosting? a seasonal best!!

Loved your post! And about the superficial thing – who says clothes and fashion are superficial and therefore bad?! In many cultures they are considered extremely important and an indicator of the who the person is underneath the clothes.
Please visit my blog – http://amysmaterialculture.wordpress.com/

What you need is a pair of Hunter boots – I bought a pair from Liberty in London, and they work with everything – jeans, draped dresses, knitwear, whatever. Plus, how liberating to be able to walk straight through puddles without a care in the world!

I think fashion is an art form. I’m not sure why people constantly refer to it as shallow or un-intellectual… I think to say such things is rather shallow, actually! People need to take a closer look sometimes.

From the breadth of responses here, I know I’m not the only one who missed you. And yes, CUPCAKES ARE TAKING OVER THE WORLD. I would recommend you look into La Canadienne boots. They are all weather (rain, sleet, mud, snow, hurricane, molten lava) yet look like a riding boot. Far better in looks and functionality than rubber ones! Joyeux Noel!

garance, that’s a very fun post. i’ve been waiting for a post.
about that comment, i don’t get it why there are still people who think working for fashion/ loving fashion is shallow. i just don’t get it.

Ok, I bought this pair of 10cm/4inch heels the other day for my graduation photo session and I’ve never walked in a pair of heels that high.

They nearly killed me.

The balls of my feet were so painful!

Am I walking wrongly? I don’t want to give away the shoes because I’ve only worn it that one time but I can’t imagine wearing them anywhere ever again. However, I’m not ready to give up on them just yet. I’ve seen some of the heels you wear, Garance, and as someone who wears them day and night; how do you do it? Pads, cushions, Scholl gels… what do I do?!!!

Poo poo on Deborah the party pooper! Who cares what she thinks? And WHY is she reading your blog anyway, if she is so holier-than-thou? I hate being judged for loving fashion, but unfortunately it happens all the time. I try to brush it off because those people don’t really know me. If they did know me they would know I get TIME with my fashion magazines in the mail and could talk them under the table about fashion AND current events. Poo poo to those people! You are a breath of fresh air — never forget it.

Speaking of Marc by Marc boots — those beautiful rain boots SAVED me on my first trip to NYC! My sister and I were drenched, caught like two rats in the rain — drying our pant-legs in the hand dryers at Grand Central. And then I remembered I had seen a sign in the window for rain boots for $28. We hightailed it down there and bought some. And they come in handy all the time! Best $28 I ever spent!

Garance, in no way shape or form are you superficial. Fashion is not superficial. You are creative, smart and happen to be obsessed with shoes. And what the hell is wrong with that? hmmmm? yep, that’s what i thought, NOTHING! you keep being your fabulous self, eat cupcakes and have a wonderful christmas!!!!

Oh Garance, your post today was a little Christmas card! Now as for this Deborah creature, isn’t the pursuit of beauty a noble cause? As Keats put it “Beauty is truth, truth beauty—that is all ye know on earth and all ye need to know?” And Grecian urns aside, is admiration of fashion also an admiration of beauty? If you’re back in NYC this winter, tromp over to Elizabeth Charles on Hudson between Horatio and Gansevoort and after ooohing and aaahhhing over the lovely fashions, get a pair of big furry boots. Snug, chic, slip-resistant, waterproof and warm as a cupcake right out of the oven!

I truly believe, and hope for myself, that one can be both obsess with fashion and involve with the human struggle. One as nothing to do with the other. IT’s an escape strategy really.
And I also believe a talented blogger/illustrator with good taste makes the world a little brighter! So please, Garance, keep on being shallow, and feed our collective shallowness! Fellow shallows united!
bises
alice.

I have been reading your blogg for a while now and I absolutely love it. I check every day to see whether you have written anything (you and the sartorialist!).
I have no idea whether your story was true or not but i’m glad you wrote it and taught Deborah (whoever she may be) to relax and see that yes, there are more important things in live that Marc Jacobs and platform shoes but the reality is that we can’t be all serious and deep alllllllll the time.
Fashion, beautiful things and laughing at ourselves need to be added to our everyday life. (What a dreadful life otherwise!).
I hope you keep telling us your love for platforms shoes, what type of perfume you like and keep taking photos of people with style. I love it!
Thank you so much and Merry Xmas.

Merci Garance pour cette jolie histoire! The same thing happened to me several years ago in Philadelphia, but with a much lesser boot. At least the feet sticking out of the snow bank were stylish, and it’s not superficial to think that that is important. We need to band together to sign an aesthete’s mainfesto- for preserving some grace in this world. Your blog brings much joy, and meilleurs voeux.

An error happened when I tried to post this, but what I was trying to say was, Thanks for the funny story, I think we are all shallow in same way, and who cares! If it is for something as beautiful and artistic as fashion than so be it!

en esperance de peut-être recevoir un réponse pour moi!
i just loved reading of your escapade… where i live, it snows from october until late march or early april. i have dealt with many a foolish shoe decision; in fact, the other day i was wearing a pair of black hand-me-down-thrifted oxfords, and discovered the hole in the toe once i had locked the house and head out bravely into the 20 cm of snow. oh dear. it was a wet sock, cold toes day indeed. i have developed a capability to save myself from falling though, especially when i want so very very much to not muck-up my outfit… rain boots are great snowboots until it hit below -5 celcius, then they can start cracking and splitting. at least, in my experience. best of luck with the winter!

I have to say to Deborah: I’m not fashion addict either (may I add I wear ugly Ugg boots when it’s really cold or hiking shoes and I don’t care if I look like a woodcutter or not. It’s cold!!) Love reading, interesting movies and so on. But buying a jacket that makes me feel…beautiful is special, too! Looking at a colorful yet perfect outfit makes me think of a painting.

Why was Deborah on your site if she feels it is superficial, which its not! I guess she has not watched the new Sex in The City trailer, its out today! Don’t judge us Deborah, we are well aware its not heart surgery…but fashion, style can be fun when not taken so seriously!

Merry Christmas Garance! Loved your post and illustration. But shallow? No! In fact, what I get from you is your adoration of fashion and all its quirks which comes through in your writing. I think you see it for what it is while enjoying it and having fun with it. Isn’t that what it’s all about?!

Oh Garance, there are so many Deborahs. They blame others for being superficial for loving the finer things in life, well made clothes and heels. There is nothing absolutely nothing wrong with that. If it consumed your life and was the most important thing in the world then yes but fashion is an important industry that must be kept alive and cherished. As for Deborah, those people are always just as shallow and vain as the people they accuse, or even more-so. And worse, they are judgmental and petty. Down with the Deborahs!!!! Long live fashion!

finding the perfect pair of chic shoes to wear in winter is virtually impossible!! i think the emma cook for topshop ones would be okay because they have a rubberized bottom, and karla deras has a pair of michael kors high heel duck boots that are all-weather… i stick to my frye engineers :)
xx
neutraltuesday.blogspot.com

ahhh garance i am so glad you are back! i look for you everyday and feel so sad when you are gone, tell my friends that you have not posted so my day is incomplete (they of course look at me like i am crazy). i’ve got myself a bright yellow pair of hunter wellies to keep my feet dry in all this snow, yes, i look exactly like paddington bear but my feet stay so dry and cozy! wishing you the best of new years and christmas! safe travels and i hope it’s full of cupcakes, tea, friends, and love. xoxoxo

yes well we all are shallow… or not. Well I am. Because Shallow people are happier or at least I’ll keep telling me that. Whatever. I think the solution to your problem is in the Prada boots, the red ones with heels. and voilà maybe those are better for you on your quest trying to make it to the next block.

It’s BOILING hot here in Australia!!!!!!!!!! No where in this country is there snow. But on the superficial note, the other night I wore my platforms and this guy who is at least 6ft3, and me, who is usually 5ft3, turned to me and said “You’re tall.” I HATE IT.

I have missed your bright happy posts, Garance. I was so glad to see your newest that I am “de-lurking” to say welcome back!

I like the tall shearling-lined side-zip boots from L.L.Bean. As sanmiguelense wrote, they are a New England heritage product and are absolutely necessary for winter here in Maine. It’s not fun OR safe to be scraping snow and ice off your car wearing 4″ heels – not to mention the damage to one’s lovely shoes! I just carry my not-so-practical shoes in to work in a tote.

Disclaimer: I work for L.L.Bean, so I am a tiny bit biased! But you have to appreciate a company that makes good quality, solid products and treats its customers and its employees alike with respect.

Hello Garance, from Montreal.
This year, I bought a Canada Goose jacket (50 per cent of Montrealers are wearing them! Not at all original, but warm enough to make up for the lack of individuality) and a pair of Pajar (Canadian brand) boots.
It’s probably the first winter since I was 10 years old that I’ve been properly dressed, and I’m so, so, so happy for it.
I went to a very chic soiree last night, and underneath all those parkas and fur hoods were hundreds of sexy girls in gorgeous cocktail dresses! Surprise!
Joyeux fetes!

Merry Christmas, Garance! You were one of the first blogs I ever read and still are one of my favourites. No need to sulk, I think, nearly everyone loves you – and isn’t blogging an escape from the dreariness of life anyway? Sabine xxx

Wow that was sooo entertaining to read! The choice of words are fantastic! I can relate to the salt, water and what they can do to shoes!!! This week i had to wear my decks to work and carry my shoes :S

LOL Garance your stories are always so funny. Now you know why we New York girls wear big rubber wellies when it snows. One wrong step and you could end up ankle-deep in murky gray slush! They may not look as cute as heels, but one journey outside without worrying about where you are stepping and tip-toeing along the sidewalk will make you think they are the best shoes in the world.

haha garance, I love you, you’re hilarious. Rainboots can totally be chic!! I have a pair with a heel and a pointed toe. They’re fabulous. And they were $17. (haha, look at me, bragging about my excellent find… I got them at Beacon’s Closet in Brooklyn, by the way. I only tell you this because it’s quite possibly my favorite store in nyc, and you should check it out sometime.)

you know garance, i got some amazing boots, miracles really last winter season. Remember those pirate boots that you were lusting over? Well, i have something better for you my dear, waterproof, saltproof, with an arctic lining, suitable even for canada’s lowest temperatures ! The best part is they’re lightweight, so i dont feel like im carrying around dumbells on my feet! Best part of my winter wardrobe. I got them at B2 i believe ! Bonne journée, I’M SO GLAD YOU’RE BACK! MISSED YOU TREMENDOUSLY!!!

Never mind the L.L. Bean or Uggs or Sorels… here in Nebraska USA, where awful winter weather is routine, the hot tip is red-toed, knee-high rubber “mud boots,” as worn by farmers and ranchers. Put your good shoes in a bag, stick your feet into these, then just leave them in the hallway outside when you get to where you’re going. No need to worry about anyone stealing them — they are so ugly they are theft-proof!

And yet Deborah reads your blog. Garance, I am an educated professional woman. I focus closely on the minute details of film all day long, in an industry dominated by men. I am expected to be ‘serious’ 10+ hours a day. My relaxation ritual is to come home, read books and blogs, and re-connect with the fact that I am a female who appreciates beauty, art and design. All intelligent humans need many interests outside of what they do the majority of the time. Having written that, I think there is so much in design that is fascinating and serious. Tom Ford expounded on this so well in Terri Gross’ recent interview with him on Fresh Air about how fashion reflects the mood of where the world is headed more than any other art form because of its immediacy. Garance, keep doing what you do. Im sure there are many men and women, like me, who get their dose of art and design from you daily. There are many, many days when your blog has cheered me up. Joyeux Noel!

ms. deborah is giving you a hard time because she is on your blog and feels YOU are shallow??? that is funny! garance, you are beautiful and have wonderful insight into fashion and LIFE…reading your words, albeit translated for me, are chock full of such subtle love of life and humor that i would never think you to be shallow…

btw, i have read all of céline’s work twice and believe that a nice light read of chick lit is just as soothing to the soul as reading about a bunch of drunk brutes! ;-)

Garance, I’ve never experienced a snow, not even last year when I was in Amsterdam for Christmas, only sleet, which dragged met to te ground. If you want to wear heels, maybe come visit here in South Africa and have a summer Christmas!! Perfect weather for fashionable shoes!!

Sorels are the best, maybe not the most beautiful, and unfortunately they last forever so the really cute ones with the fur trim that were advertised in Dec. Vogue cannot be justified while the ones that I have are still in perfect condition after 4 years, but your feet never get wet and they only get cold when it’s below -25. My brother used to live where there are polar bears and you have to ski-doo to work and he swore by them.

P.S. I think it’s funny that most of the recommendations on the boot situation has come from Canadians. When it comes to trying to battle the chic vs. warm and dry, we are the experts, it’s one that every Canadian woman must fight about 6 months a year.

this made me laugh – we spent 2wks in September and I was determined to look super chic on the streets of NYC – well my legs, feet and poor toes suffered in my chic flats and chic wedges – I ended up buying cheap ugly sport shoes to wear as I could no longer walk!! my hubby laughed at me….i told him woman in NYC take cabs but we trugged along walking the long avenues….nice memories anyway and next time I shall have to make sure I wear comfortable shoes and not just stylish ones!

If that MORON deborah thinks you are so superficial WHAT IS SHE DOING READING YOUR BLOG? deborah? don’t you have something more deep and important to do?

And, as for the question deborah poses ‘ where will all this fashion get you? ‘ Well, I think it will get you to spend your time inJOY! (Since this world of fashion is what INSPIRES Garance) Where you can then pass your JOY along to others, like minded or otherwise! Which in turn INSPIRES others to do what brings them JOY!

Everyone expresses their creativity in their own way, deborah, in case you didn’t know that! What would you have Garance do, be a doctor? Would that be something that “GETS YOU SOMEWHERE” ? and where is that supposed somewhere anyway?

TO BE IN JOY IN YOUR OWN LIFE IS WHERE YOU WANT TO BE! THAT’S WHERE MOST PEOPLE ASPIRE TO BE! TO ENJOY YOUR OWN LIFE IS GETTING SOMEWHERE IN THIS LIFE, deborah! A PLACE I’M SURE YOU ARE NOT, BECAUSE IF YOU WERE, YOU WOULDN’T BE SPENDING YOUR TIME CRITICIZING SOMEONE WHO IS ALREADY THERE!

I actually have a technical question…. When you post an illustration do you do a hand sketch and scan it into the computer to be digitally retouched? Or do you work directly on the computer? Always curious!

xx

P.S. Was this illustration inspired by the red-head on Scott’s blog wearing the Surface to Air boots?? I love the crossover quality the blogs are getting! :)

Just a couple of days ago the same style sense (silly shallow idea) made me go out into the poring rain wearing my sky-scrapper platform booties. Not only I had to be veeeeeery careful not to slide on the sidewalk and end up feet up, which gives one a not very glamorous walk, but also in the end my beautiful Brian Atwood’s where soaked and my feet freezing cold. As there was no way I could go back home, I had to brave it, and in result I am now with a big cold at home crossing my fingers to be well by New Years Eve. Loved your post very funny and it also made me laugh at myself.

XO
Wish you a great 2010

p.s. I am now on a quest for some cool and down to hearth pair of classic Hunter boots!!!!

OMG! Most people (not to say all) who live in the capitalist world are superficial. but we are many things instead of superficial, and I think the sum of all these things is what makes us human and different. I love being superficial, helps to avoid falling into the drama ;))
You’re so lovely Garance, I adore reading you..I’m sure your’re much much MUCH more than just superficial!
Happy new year dear! Enjoy with the ones you love!! BIG HUG!

Garance, I got these boots from my boyfriend for Christmas and I love them! http://www.ilsejacobsen.dk/?pid=3&sub=7
They are by Isle Jacobsen, and are made of 100% natural rubber with a cotton-fleece liner. I have them in navy blue, lace-up and they come in a few other colors as well.
xox from Canada

I’ve missed you, Garance! I love the way that you love fashion — there is nothing shallow about it. Wouldn’t it be fun to do a shoot inspired by both Celine, the writer, and Celine, the fashion line? The spring collection corresponds well with a lot of scenes in Journey to the End of the Night — the clean, spare lines, military jackets, even the sober but beautiful colour palette. Hope you have a very happy new year!

oh…i assuming deborah’s comments hurt your feelings…and rightfully so…but i am saddened (and i assume that that was not your original intention)…but in defence of your feelings…some here thought it was ok to bash deborah…
and that’s not cool.

Hi Garance! The weather in Holland is as bad as in NY… I must admid I decided to wear my UGG boots again: to bad isn’t it? [especially because almost everyone in Amsterdam is wearing them..) Just checked the L.L Bean boots online. You guys wear the light brown ones? great! Xxx C

I’m struggling in the snow just like you! We normally only have snow for max a week where I live, but now it’s been on the ground for over two weeks and will stay for at least two more. Love the weather, but I don’t have boots for this! Went out photographing in the amazing light today and almost froze my toes off…

Oh, I LOVE this! I feel so misunderstood by the rest of my peers when they make fun of the fact that my feet are 4.5 inches away from the floor and only held by a heel that seems to have the purpose in life of resembling a toothpick! (but yet, who can ever change the satisfaction of walking like a human being in alexander wang boots that put us all above the rest – literally!?)

Bless your poor heart for having to walk in that blizzard! my condolences! (that’s why I live in SoFla!)

I also relate to your predicament: snow and ice in a city = bad news if wearing regular shoes. I also throw my vote in for L.L. Bean ‘Maine Hunting’ or “Bean” Boots – same kind of shoe in different heights or colors. You can probably get a great pair on Ebay — boots used by someone else for 20 years will still last you a lifetime!

and coming from a girl who lives in the northeast (waaaay north!) i completely understand and empathize…salt is terrible for good shoes and in the snowy weather there is sadly nothing like practical shoes.

well i know everyone has probably written the same thing, and i know you are probably past looking at these comments, buuuttttttttt

1) To find a passion in fashion (oh god that rhymes how shockingly awesome), people and design does NOT mean you are shallow!! Just like wearing holey flannel shirts and saying g’day (sorry, i’m from Aus) does not make you a bogan.

2) You have created the most incredible blog here, with STUNNING photographs so I’d say that, well, that fashion conscience has gotten you somewhere.

3) I want to grow up to do what you do with equal brilliance – to me, that would be a dream come true.

wel… deborah has a point. looking at your pictures helps me out when deciding how to wear my cheapo clothes, and i’m grateful for that, and i’m sure you’re a lovely woman. but debora still has a point.

Very clever, I liked this post, a nice mix of self-awareness, self-deprecation, and then acceptance.

Anyway as I said in the e-mail I sent during the holidays, of course it is not so black & white, this notion of fashion and superficiality. In the depths of hell which I’ve experienced in 2009, including stress, conflict and even death of a loved one, I know better than any buffoon that wonderful things like fashion can serve a purpose in its right time and place. It has provided a lovely world full of beautiful colours, shapes and sizes in which I can rarely get hurt. It is not THE world in which I live, but a place to loiter and enjoy. So thank you for being a vehicle for this! Hourrah!